I’ve been beaten down, I’ve been kicked around,
But she takes it all for me.
And I lost my faith, in my darkest days,
But she makes me want to believe.
They call her love, love, love, love, love. …
She is love, and she is all I need.
Well I had my ways, they were all in vain,
But she waited patiently.
It was all the same, all my pride and shame,
And she put me on my feet.
They call her love, love, love, love, love. …
She is love, and she is all I need.
And when that world slows down, dear.
And when those stars burn out, here.
Oh she’ll be here, yes she’ll be here,
They call her love, love, love, love, love. …
She is love, and she is all I need,
Who would have thought that a song from Top 40 radio would be so spot on? This song speaks of an ideal love that is self-sacrificing, patient, forgiving, inspiring, sufficient, and unwavering. It seems to me that this description of love coincides with the Christian understanding of love. Jesus did not live for his own benefit, but gave of himself for the benefit of others. He who is love was selfless to the point of death.
[EDIT- Just found out that Lauren has already posted on this song last April. Yes, the song is just that good.]
COMMENTS
14 responses to “Parachute "She is Love"”
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It should be said that by comparing Jesus' love to a pop song I do not intend to make Jesus' love subordinate to some human ideal of love, but instead assert that Jesus' death is love's decisive manifestation and the standard by which all other love is judged.
The coolest thing about this song is that the writer is related to Jane Anderson, true champion for the Gospel.
This is a heart warming song, and expresses the Gospel. It seems to me that when the love described in this song does take place, and it sometimes does, albeit imperfectly, then it must be the love of Christ, for we humans are otherwise incapable of loving the unlovable (which is everyone else except perhaps our children). It is His love working in us that enables us to love, whether or not we realize it, and, by the same line of reasoning, it must be His love that we receive when someone loves us. Our love for one another always stumbles over our innate selfishness, but that which does get through is a holy gift, and sent by Christ to remind us of Himself. This is how it looks to me, anyway, I am open to corrections.
Robin, well put. As 1 Jn. 1:16b says "God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him."
I really really enjoy Parachute's Losing Sleep, the whole album is great! And this song is good.
Todd. Awesome post. The song is so moving and so striking because it describes, almost to a tee, what love is. Rock on, Todd.
Great minds think a like!
I almost opened for Parachute but they cancelled the show to play on Jimmy Kimmel. It's cool that this song is so popular. I hear it with all the "She's" capitalized as a name for God. In Judaism, the Holy Spirit is Shekinah, or Divine Mother Wisdom.
Well, helloooooo Robin! Now it's my turn to say "Robin Anderson, out of the blue!" You said that to me a long time ago when I posted something on JZ's site.
I really miss hearing your voice — literally and on the blog.
Thank you, John! I do think that the love we give to one another is only possible by Christ acting through us, but it is important to say also that we recognize it as His because it is love is born out of suffering – loving the unlovable is painful, sacrificial, and impossible unless we've received the same. And it is certainly not calculated, "I'd better do this because….", that does not help. Being known and still loved is the greatest thing, and guaranteed to be Christ's love, because it is sacrificial and joyful. Sacrificial only is a burden to the beloved, joyful only is silly because I must not be really known. So whenever I am given such love, often most unexpected, I know it is a sign of Christ, the cup of water given in His name.
haha Todd I am going to take complete credit for this post. I bet you're kicking yourself for ditching me for their concert in the burgh. could've hung with the band…
btw this song's not just a top 40 hit. they've cracked the top 10 a couple times on VH1. I've seen it as high as seven (I think it was sandwiched in between taylor swift and katie perry that week lol). not sure where they've been recently.
finally, should mention that the lead guitarist for parachute – Nate McFarland – played on the original High Street Hymns project, which is mockingbird affiliated. check it out!
http://www.highstreethymns.com/
also Lauren…
…don't you just mean great minds have a great mutual friend 😉
you're right nate… this post is totally trying to atone for not going that concert. I didn't know what I was missing!
yes, nate…great minds have a great mutual friend!
as you already know, it's great to see you here.
haha well I did get a text about it last night when I was at the gym…
(yes I did just want to say I was at the gym last night)